Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 22 Summary
In Chapter 22 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” Margaery finds herself in a heated confrontation with her brother Joshua, who accuses her of betraying their family by revealing sensitive information publicly. Despite Joshua’s attempts to maintain a serious demeanor, Margaery’s sarcasm and defiance shine through as she challenges his self-righteousness. The tension escalates when Joshua reveals that their father, Lord Chancellor Raul, wants her to explain her actions to the King, a request that Margaery finds absurd given her previous clarifications at the Royal Medical Hall.
As the conversation unfolds, Margaery’s frustration grows, particularly when Joshua insists she must confess to deceiving Prince Dashnell. Margaery’s laughter at Joshua’s accusations reflects her disbelief and anger at being scapegoated for a situation that she feels is beyond her control. The emotional weight of the family dynamics becomes apparent as she confronts not only Joshua but also her father, Raul, whose authority and bias toward her siblings further complicate the already fraught atmosphere.
The chapter takes a darker turn when Raul, unable to cope with Margaery’s defiance, threatens to lock her in the cellar as punishment. Margaery’s memories of her wet nurse’s tragic death, framed by her sister Tessa, resurface, intensifying her emotional turmoil. The confrontation reveals the deep-seated issues within their family, including Raul’s harsh treatment and the consequences of past actions. Margaery stands her ground, asserting that her father’s threats will not break her spirit, while Raul’s fury mounts as he grapples with his own guilt and the fear of losing control over his children.
As the chapter reaches its climax, Raul presents Margaery with a cruel ultimatum: confess to the King or face imprisonment in the cellar. The stakes are raised as the tension between familial loyalty and personal integrity comes to a head. Just when it seems Margaery’s fate is sealed, a sudden interruption occurs with the arrival of a messenger from Prince Dashnell, demanding her presence. This unexpected twist leaves readers on edge, hinting at potential rescue or further complications in Margaery’s struggle against her family’s oppressive dynamics.
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**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 22**
“I know,” Margaery replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She raised her gaze, searching for understanding in Joshua’s expression. “But tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?”
Joshua’s brow furrowed deeply, casting a shadow over his usually composed demeanor. “To be fair,” he began, his tone measured and serious, “you didn’t technically do anything wrong. The real issue lies in how you aired our family’s dirty laundry in public. This affects the entire Wallen family and could tarnish Avery’s career.”
“In simpler terms,” he continued, his eyes narrowing slightly, “you betrayed this family.”
Margaery suppressed a derisive snort at his self-righteousness, the absurdity of his “impartial” act making her want to roll her eyes.
“Since you believe that, then I suppose my betrayal is a fact,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. There was little left to contest; after all, she had grown accustomed to bearing the weight of blame.
“Then why did Father and big brother summon me here today?” Her smile faded, replaced by a cold, piercing gaze that locked onto Joshua.
Joshua shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, his voice faltering as he replied, “They want to salvage the situation.”
“And how do they plan to do that?” Margaery pressed, her curiosity piqued despite the tension hanging heavily in the air.
“You need to go to the palace and explain to the King what transpired at the Royal Medical Hall today,” Joshua outlined his plan, his tone growing more serious.
“But I already made myself perfectly clear at the Royal Medical Hall,” Margaery retorted, a hint of mockery lacing her words. “I thought I articulated everything well enough for Nolan, and even Prince Dashnell seemed to grasp the situation.”
With that, she shot a pointed glare at Avery, who was attempting to feign ignorance behind Joshua. “What part of that didn’t reach your ears, Avery?” she challenged, her eyes narrowing.
Avery looked distinctly uncomfortable, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, clearly wishing to disappear.
Joshua cast a quick glance at Avery before returning his focus to Margaery. “What I mean is, you need to go to the palace and confess to the King that you deceived Prince Dashnell, who was completely unaware of your actions.”
“You took Craig’s prescription without permission and handed it to Avery, who mistakenly believed it was valid for use at the Royal Medical Hall. You never considered that your deception could lead to such chaos,” Joshua explained, his tone firm but tinged with concern.
Margaery couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his words, the sound echoing in the tense silence.
She looked at him, eyes sparkling with sarcasm. “Joshua, are you even listening to yourself? All those years you drilled into me the values of ‘honesty’ and ‘living with a clear conscience.'”
“Do you still possess those values now?” she continued, her voice rising. “Are you still playing the impartial judge in this mess? Doesn’t it make you feel sick inside?”
Joshua’s expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. “So, you’re not going to defend yourself?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“Is this even a defense?” Margaery retorted, her tone icy. “Can you even explain what ‘explain’ means?”
“You—” Joshua’s voice was strained with anger, his eyes flashing red with emotion.
Earlier, when Avery had stormed in, fuming with rage, Joshua had thought Avery was overreacting. A little girl could easily provoke him because he lacked stability.
The irony of the situation twisted in his gut; now he found himself reeling from Margaery’s verbal blow, feeling bile rise in his throat.
“What do you want from me?” Margaery shot back, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve always been the older brother, bossing me around for years, and I accepted it. But look at you both now.” Her gaze landed on Raul, her father. “Lord Chancellor, is this how you manage state affairs?”
Though her words lacked harshness, the formal title “Lord Chancellor” dripped with contempt, a calculated jab at Raul, who knew he hadn’t treated all his children fairly and had taken sides in a biased manner.
With a roar, he exploded, “Wretched creature! Still refusing to yield until you break? Fine! The cellar will cool that hot head of yours. When the rats become your audience, maybe you’ll learn how to address your betters!”
Raul’s thoughts spiraled into turmoil. How had he raised such a defiant daughter? Blood surged in his throat; he couldn’t swallow it down, nor could he spit it out.
“Lock me in the cellar?” Margaery sneered, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. “Just like how my wet nurse met her end, right?”
Her wet nurse had been framed by Tessa, a fact that still burned in Margaery’s memory.
Last winter, Tessa had deliberately knocked over a coffee pot, claiming it was the wet nurse who had scalded her. If Tessa hadn’t dodged quickly enough, she could have been disfigured.
After framing the wet nurse, Tessa had feigned innocence, pleading for mercy while claiming to understand why the wet nurse disliked her presence, which she insisted threatened Margaery’s interests.
With the flames of anger stoked, Raul had locked the wet nurse in the cellar as punishment.
Three days. That was all it took.
When Margaery had finally dragged her out, the wet nurse had been cold and stiff as the stones of the cellar.
Raul had squeezed out two crocodile tears, claiming, “Her old illness,” as if that could absolve him of the guilt. “She couldn’t survive three days.” Then he had added the final blow, “Failed your mother’s dying wish… not gentle enough with the wet nurse, not strict enough with the daughter.”
But everyone in the family knew the truth of how the wet nurse had died.
Even Raul had his suspicions, buried deep beneath layers of denial.
When Margaery’s words echoed in his mind, Raul felt as if he had been struck. “Damn it! How dare you bring up old wounds!” he shouted, fury bubbling over. “Guards, take her away!”
Margaery felt a surge of certainty; her wet nurse hadn’t died of illness, but of something far darker.
The real death blow? Raul’s palm had shattered her ribs, rupturing something deep within her. That was why three days in the cellar had finished her.
Tears brimmed in Margaery’s eyes as she faced Raul. “Lord Chancellor, you can lock me up, but if you do, your precious daughter’s ailment might never be cured.”
She cast a glance at Tessa, who stood nearby, her face pale and anxious.
“Are you threatening me?” Raul’s face twisted with rage, his chest tightening with anger.
Margaery remained silent, her stubbornness solidifying as she held her ground, her icy gaze locking onto Raul’s. He had never seen such determination in her before.
“Daddy, maybe we should reconsider,” Tessa interjected softly, tugging at Raul’s sleeve, her voice trembling. “Margaery only stormed off to the Royal Medical Hall out of frustration. But the cellar… that damp air is suffocating. What if something happens to her down there?” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I’m just heartbroken over her nanny’s death. If I had known she was unwell, I would have begged you to show mercy,” she added, letting out a soft sigh. “Father, my stomach aches.”
Raul’s heart sank at her words, and he hurriedly replied, “Tessa, go back to bed right now.”
He scooped her up and carried her to her room, his heart heavy as he looked at her pale, sweat-drenched face. Then, turning to glare at Margaery, the jealousy simmering within him snapped his last thread of patience.
“Option one,” he said, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Hand over the cure now and beg the King to clear your brother. Option two, the cellar. The choice is yours.”
He braced himself to drag her there if necessary.
‘Let her be stubborn. She’s just a soft girl. That cellar? It’s pitch-black, the air thick enough to choke on. Three days max, and she’ll break,’ he thought to himself, a cruel smile tugging at his lips.
After the mess was cleaned up, he would smooth things over. There would be plenty of time, he assured himself.
He waved his hand, signaling Astrid to take Margaery away.
“Miss, please!” Astrid snarled, intoxicated by her borrowed authority, her grip tightening painfully around Margaery’s arm.
The other two matrons closed in, grabbing her and dragging her toward the cellar’s ominous entrance.
Suddenly, a figure burst through the doors, urgency written all over his face. “Sir! Prince Dashnell’s man has arrived! He demands Lady Margaery’s presence—immediately!”
Conclusion
In the suffocating tension of the moment, Margaery stood at a crossroads, her defiance igniting a fire within her that neither her father nor her brother could extinguish. The weight of betrayal hung heavily in the air, but it was not only her actions that had led to this confrontation; it was the unspoken truths of their family’s dark past that now clawed at her heart. She had fought against the shadows of her upbringing, determined not to be another pawn in their twisted game of power and blame. As the guards dragged her toward the cellar, she felt a surge of clarity wash over her. The memories of her wet nurse, the injustices she had witnessed, and the relentless grip of her father’s control fueled her resolve. Margaery was no longer just a girl caught in a web of family politics; she was a woman ready to reclaim her narrative.
As the urgency of Prince Dashnell’s man echoed through the halls, a glimmer of hope pierced the darkness that threatened to engulf her. Margaery understood that this was not merely about her own fate but about the fragile threads that held her family together, even as they threatened to tear apart. The looming decision between submission and defiance crystallized into a profound realization: she could no longer afford to be silent. The whispers of the past had shaped her, but the choice of how to move forward lay firmly in her hands. With newfound determination, she would face the King, not just to defend herself, but to confront the truth that had long been buried beneath layers of deceit. The echoes of her family’s history would resonate in the halls of power, and Margaery vowed to ensure that her voice would be heard, shaping a tomorrow that was no longer dictated by fear.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Margaery faces the consequences of her actions head-on. With the looming threat of being locked away in the cellar, the stakes are higher than ever. The arrival of Prince Dashnell’s man introduces a new dynamic that could either save Margaery or plunge her deeper into the family’s treacherous politics. Will she be able to leverage this unexpected opportunity to turn the tide in her favor, or will her family’s machinations ensnare her further? The clock is ticking, and her choices will have lasting repercussions not just for herself but for the entire Wallen family.
Moreover, the chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex relationships that bind Margaery to her family, particularly her fraught connection with her father, Raul. As secrets from the past resurface, the emotional stakes will intensify, revealing the true cost of loyalty and betrayal. Will Margaery find the strength to confront her father and assert her own agency, or will the weight of her family’s legacy crush her spirit? With every whisper echoing the past and shaping her future, Margaery stands at a crossroads, and the choices she makes could reshape the very fabric of her family’s destiny. Prepare for a whirlwind of revelations, confrontations, and the fierce struggle for power that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
